lowing report of the Eighty-third regiment O.V.I., under my command, from the time it left Natchitoches until the close of the battle of Sabine Cross-Roads: My regiment, together with the balance of the Fourth division, by order of Colonel W. J. Landrum, commanding, left Natchitoches at halfpast six o'clock A.M., on Wednesday, the sixth instant, marched some fifteen miles on the Pleasant Hills road, and encamped for the night. On the morning of the seventh, the division moved soon after six o'clock, and reached Pleasant Hills at half-past one o'clock, a march of nineteen miles, but by reason of a heavy rain the teams did not arrive until seven o'clock in the evening. was done at once, causing the rebels to break in confusion. Being so far from any support, I found it necessary to rejoin our main force, and at once ordered a return, in which we were unmolested. I can only account for the unprecedented success of my little corps by the complete defeat of the rebels sustained on the open field, and in the woods near the field. It being quite dark, and being burdened with our wound; ed, which we brought with us, I was compelled to leave the caissons, though I at the time supposed we were to bring them off in the morning. Having moved back to the open field, we joined the other regiments of the brigade, and after obtaining a supply of ammunition, moved out with the brigade about a mile upon the road over which we had driven the rebels, there formed Friday, eighth instant, the division was orline of battle, and remained during the night.dered to march at half-past five o'clock, but my At this time the Fifty-eighth Illinois regiment regiment was detailed as a guard for the ammuwas detached, and moved to their original po- nition train, and did not leave till more than an sition behind their fortifications, upon the left of hour later. At noon the rear of the train had the open field. not advanced more than six or seven miles, on account of the heavy skirmishing in front, when Captain Dickey, Assistant Adjutant-General, brought an order from General Ransom for me to assemble my regiment, which was disposed as guard through the train, and move to the front as fast as possible to support my division. I immediately started with the rear-guard, assembled the regiment as I passed the train, and moved as rapidly as possible past troops and through the train, which was also moving forward to the front, a distance of eight or ten miles, and then moved to the right of the road diagonally toward the woods, and formed in line of battle at a point designated by Major Lieber of General Banks's staff. General Ransom then ordered bayonets to be fixed, and conducted the regiment forward into the woods to support a battery, and ordered a company thrown out to protect our right flank. Soon after, by order of Colonel Vance, an officer and twenty-five men were advanced as skirmishers. The Ninth Indiana battery at the beginning of the engagement, although in the finest position on the field, was completely masked by battery L, First United States artillery, consequently could not be used till late in the engagement, at which time it made some very fine shots, dismounting one of the enemy's guns, and totally silencing the remaining guns of the battery. The officers and men of the First brigade have fully indicated their great superiority over the rebel hosts to which they were opposed in the battle of Pleasant Hill. Feeling satisfied that if my brigade had been together, greater would have been the results, I still feel a pride in knowing that to the First brigade, Third division, Sixteenth army corps, belongs the credit of giving the enemy the first check, of turning his flank, of driving him further, and of holding longer the grounds captured, than any troops on the field. Captain George R. Brown, of the Ninth Indiana battery, has proved himself a capable, cool, and gallant officer. Captain John Tobin, company K, Fifty-eighth Illinois, fell, shot through the heart, while gallantly leading his men in the charge. Captain F. S. Zeek, company C, Eightyninth Indiana, fell severely wounded in both feet, while bravely leading his men across the field. In this connection, I would respectfully state that quite a number of the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth New-York, with their colors, were with me on the three-mile charge through the woods, and acquitted themselves with honor. Again thanking the brave officers and men whom I have the honor to command, am, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. F. LYNCH, Colonel Commanding. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BALDWIN'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT O. V. I., GRAND ECORE, LA., April 12, 1864. Captain Oscar Mohr, A. A. General, Detachment Thirteenth A. C.: CAPTAIN I have the honor to submit the fol It was about three o'clock when an order was received from General Ransom to pile up the knapsacks, advance through the woods and take a position at the edge of the field on the right of the Ninety-sixth Ohio, which was already in position. The enemy was advancing through the field in line of battle, and the regiment opened fire the moment it had gained the position designated, which was on the right of the line of battle. The enemy outflanked our line, and was closing in upon the right, when Captain delivered to me an order from General Ransom to move the regiment by the left flank from its position on the right to the support of the centre, which was heavily pressed. I explained to him that we were outflanked upon the right, and that it was necessary for me to change the front of my regiment diagonally to the line of battle, and to hold my position to protect the right flank. But he assured me that the last order was peremptory, and must be obeyed. I therefore immediately moved my regiment by the left flank, in good order, to the position to In the PRIVATE LETTER FROM THE EIGHTY-THIRD OHIO. HEADQUARTERS EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT 0. V. I., which I was guided by Captain mean time the intervening line of troops had been withdrawn, and the troops I was ordered to support had fallen back to the crest of the A boat is to leave in a short time, and I will hill, to which position, by order of General Ran-write until the last moment. I have been writsom, the regiment also fell back, having lost during to the friends of killed and wounded. Caping the movement several men; also Captain C. tain Waldo is wounded in the left arm and left A. Burns, who was instantly killed by a musket-hip. I have written to his father. He is at shot in the head. At this point, Colonel Brown, Mansfield, in the enemy's hospital, doing well. as ranking officer after the fall of Colonel Vance, The battle was shockingly managed. It was took command of the brigade; and General no doubt a surprise upon the General commandCameron, in place of General Ransom, who fell ing. He endeavored to charge the enemy with a severely wounded just as the regiment reached baggage-train, but it didn't work. It was some the top of the ridge, took command of the de- eighteen miles from Pleasant Hills, where we entachment of the Thirteenth corps. After holding camped the night before, that a portion of our dithe position for some time, the regiment, together vision, after skirmishing all day, (our brigade with the whole line, was forced to fall back over marched out at three o'clock A.M.,) were brought the crest of the ridge, where it was supplied with to a stand by the enemy. The Eighty-third, ammunition. My regiment and the Ninety-sixth some ten miles back, guarding an ammunitionOhio, under the immediate command of Colonel train, was sent for and arrived at a rapid march, Brown, commanding the brigade, then changed partly upon the double-quick, at about two front perpendicular to the line of battle, and o'clock, and after two or three changes of posimoved out about three hundred yards to the tion became hotly engaged at three o'clock. Our right of the right flank, to oppose a flank move-line was stretched just as long as possible. The. ment of the enemy, and threw forward skirmish-enemy outflanked us on both flanks, and massed ers, who had advanced but a few yards when in front. When we engaged the enemy there they were engaged with the enemy, who were were nine thousand, perhaps, of our division enconcealed by the dense undergrowth. Nearly the same time the enemy, who had been lying concealed in line of battle, arose and opened fire upon our line, the left flank of which was not more than fifty yards distant. The line whose right we had advanced to protect in the meaning the engagement. Our little force fought the time had fallen back, and the two regiments exposed to the fire of the enemy in front, in rear, and on the left, to avoid being surrounded, fell back, with considerable loss, including Captain Waldo, missing, and Captain Cummins, wounded in the arm and side. From the fact that the regiment was nearly surrounded, I hope that many of the missing will prove to be uninjured. After falling back, a line was immediately formed, but was soon broken by retreating cavalry. The same attempt was repeated, but with little success, until a portion of the wagon-train, which choked up the only road not occupied by the enemy, and the line of the Nineteenth corps, which had formed in line of battle about one and a half miles from where my regiment first engaged the enemy, were passed. This was about six o'clock. In rear of the Nineteenth corps a line was formed of men from my own and other regiments, and moved to the left and remained in position until about eight o'clock, when the regiment assembled at division headquarters, and at ten o'clock P.M., by order of General Cameron, moved toward Pleasant Hills. The loss of the regiment in killed, wounded, and missing is three officers and twenty-six men. To the coolness and fearlessness of the officers, and the bravery and strict execution of orders of the men, is due the comparatively small loss sustained by the regiment. I have the honor to be, Captain, your obedi- gaged; not a man in reserve. The Third division came up and went in as it arrived; but we were opposed by some twenty thousand troops, according to the best information we can get, and they were reënforced by five thousand durenemy in a regular pitched battle from three to six o'clock, after skirmishing all day, under every disadvantage. There was but one road, leading into an open field and passable wood. This wood and field were surrounded by ravines and tangled swamp, so that there was no ingress or egress but by the one road, and that road was choked up by wagons. There is a great deal of bitter feeling against our leaders. It is very much like "Grand Coteau," where one brigade of our corps was left to be gobbled up by the enemy. Generals Banks and Franklin did not believe that there was any force but a few skirmishers in our front, and by their incredulity lost the day. The Nineteenth corps came up to within one and a half miles of the field, and formed a line in a favorable place. They that night checked the enemy, but we all fell back to Pleasant Hills, eighteen miles, where we met General A. J. Smith. Upon meeting the fragment of the old Tenth, (now the Fourth,) he wept. He told General Banks, I am informed, that he had sacrificed the best fighting division in the army. The enemy followed us up and got a severe punishing at the hands of General Smith. General Banks said to him: "General Smith, you have saved my army." Smith's reply was characteristic-"By God! I know it, sir." When told that reenforcements were coming, Smith said he was very sorry. Before being asked the reason, he said: "The fellow has more men now than he knows how to use." Our prisoners say that the slaughter of the confederates on the first day was enormous; that they lost many times the killed and wounded that we did. They were pretty crazy with Louisiana run and whisky, and while they rushed forward fearlessly, their aim was not so steady as our men's. Still, they had sharp-shooters, who were cool enough. Our loss of officers was three times as great as usual, according to the number of men. Three out of the four brigade commanders were probably killed, and General Ransom, commanding detachment of corps, was severely wounded. We have but one general and three colonels remaining in the corps-that part of it with us, either fifteen or sixteen regiments. The Eighty-third did finely. When it left the right to move to the left, although the enemy were close to us, and one captain and several men fell, still the regiment marched off coolly and in perfect order, at right shoulder shift arms, ranks well closed up. The gunboats have had some flurries since the transports got down here, and the pickets are assailed occasionally; but there is little danger of an attack here, although it has been expected, and we have been ready for it all the time. Troops at arms at three o'clock, and occasional orders that we shall be engaged in fifteen minutes, or that they are closing in on the right or left. Our hospital teams and supplies are away to the rear. We are in line of battle in the woods, a slashing in front of us, (trees cut down,) and a part of the line extending from the river above to the river below has rifle-pits, breast-works, and batteries. We can whip forty thousand here, but they will not attack us in a place of our own choosing. The river is falling fast, and I expect every hour an order to get out of here. H. W. "MISSOURI REPUBLICAN" ACCOUNT. GRAND ECORE, April 13, 1864. The grand expedition up Red River, which promised such beneficial results, has met with an unexpected and disastrous check. On the sixth of April the Union army, under command of Major-General Franklin, moved from Natchitoches (pronounced Nackitosh) toward Shreveport. Natchitoches is four miles from Red River, the nearest point on the river being Grand Ecore, the place from which this letter is dated. The road from Natchitoches is through a dense forest of pine woods, the surface of the country being broken and hilly. There are but few plantations opened, and nothing upon which to subsist an army. On Thursday night, the seventh, the army camped at Pleasant Hill, a small town in the pine woods, about thirty miles north-east of Natchitoches, on the road to Shreveport. The wagon-road leaves the river to the right some fifteen or twenty miles, rendering the cooperation of the gunboats impossible. Before encamping at Pleasant Hill, there was a sharp cavalry skirmish about two miles beyond that place, resulting in no import- ¦ | ant advantage to either side. The cavalry encamped about seven miles in advance of the main army. Next morning (Friday, the eighth) the army started toward Mansfield, a distance of seventeen miles from Pleasant Hill. About noon, while the enemy was in line of march, arrived at the front, at a small bayou, where a bridge was being built. General Banks at once assumed command of the army in the field. There was almost constant skirmishing all the way from Pleasant Hill to the place where the battle afterward occurred. When General Banks arrived at the bayou, the Nineteenth army corps were several miles in the rear, the Thirteenth army corps were crossing the newly constructed bridge, and General Lee's cavalry, about five thousand men, some three miles in advance, together with Nim's celebrated battery, the Chicago Mercantile battery, First Indiana, and battery G, of the regular army. The Fourth division, Thirteenth army corps, under command of General Ransom, were hurried forward as a support to the cavalry. About three o'clock P.M., when within two miles of Mansfield, the advance army, consisting of cavalry, artillery, and Fourth division, Thirteenth army corps, above mentioned, while marching through a dense pine forest, there being thick undergrowth of pines on either side of the road, were attacked by the rebels in great force, on both flanks and in the front. The engagement soon became general; the rebels suddenly opening with artillery, and musketry, charging our suprised and panic-stricken columns with terrific yells, evincing a daring and determination worthy of a better cause. General Banks and General Franklin hurried to the front, and were in the thickest of the fight. The artillery was speedily put in position at the extreme front, and for a while did excellent service. Finding the front rather too dangerous for MajorGenerals, Banks and Franklin returned to the rear of the wagon-train, just in time to save themselves from capture, as the rebels pressed upon both sides of our army with crushing effect. A ball passed through General Banks's hat. Every thing was soon in the wildest confusion; the wagon-train being in the rear, and in the narrow road, attempted to turn round to fall back, and completely blocked up the way, cutting off the advance both from a way of retreat, and from reënforcements. The rebels had formed in the shape of an isosceles triangle, leaving the base open, and at the apex planting their artillery. Our advance marched directly into the triangle, having the two wings of the rebel forces on either side of them. These wings were speedily connected, compelling our forces to retreat or surrender. The batteries above mentioned, consisting of twenty pieces in all, were now captured, together with nearly all the officers and men. The Chicago Mercantile battery was captured entire, and I am informed that all her oflicers and men fell into the hands of the enemy. The Fourth division, Thirteenth army corps, two thousand eight hundred men, under General Ransom, and General Lee's cavalry, about three thousand strong, and the batteries above mentioned, were the forces in advance of the wagon-train. These forces fought desperately for a while, but gave way under superior numbers of the rebels, and retreated in great precipitation. The scene of this retreat beggars all description. General Franklin said of it, that "Bull Run was not a circumstance in comparison." General Ransom was wounded in the knee, but rode off the field before he was compelled, by loss of blood, to dismount. Captain Dickey, of General Ransom's staff, was shot through the head and killed instantly. His body was left on the field. The position of the wagon-train in the narrow road, was the great blunder of the affair. The rear was completely blocked up, rendering the retreat very difficult, and in fact, almost impossible. Cavalry horses were dashing at full speed through the roads, endangering infantry and other pedestrians more than rebel musketry, the retreat having become so precipitate that all attempts to make a stand, for a while seemed impossible. The immense baggage and supply train of General Lee's cavalry, consisting of two hundred and sixty-nine wagons, nearly all fell into the hands of the enemy, together with the mules attached thereto. their precipitate retreat from the battle-field to Pleasant Hill. Saturday morning General Banks ordered a retreat of the whole army to Grand Ecore. The wagon-trains and the heavy artillery, guarded by the negro regiments, took the advance, leaving Pleasant Hill early in the morning. It required nearly all day to get the immense train in motion, the advance being at least fifteen miles distant before the rear got fairly started. About five o'clock P.M., just as the wagontrain of General Banks's army had all got in motion, the rebels attacked our army in great force. Our forces were posted so as to effectually cover our retreat; the right resting about half a mile north-west of the town of Pleasant Hill, the centre about a half-mile to the west, and the left still further west, about a half-mile in the woods. The Sixteenth army corps, commanded by General A. J. Smith, occupied the right up to the centre, and the Nineteenth army corps, under General Franklin, the left up to the centre. The reserves were posted about a half-mile in the rear. The forces supporting the Sixteenth army corps were the Forty-ninth Illinois, commanded by Major Thomas W. Morgan; One Hundred and Seventy-eighth New-York, commanded by ColThe Third division, Thirteenth army corps, onel Waler; Eighty-ninth Indiana, commanded by mustering about eighteen thousand men, under Colonel Murray, and the Fifty-eighth Illinois. I command of General Cameron, were sent for- have no list of the regiments supporting the Nineward, and endeavored to make a stand. But the teenth army corps. The rebels under Kirby Smith effort was futile. The rebels pressed so hard attacked our whole front in great force, and after a upon General Cameron that he could not resist half-hour of terrible fighting, with musketry and them. After suffering terribly, he fell in with field artillery, our forces fell back on the reserve the retreating column. The Thirteenth army line, a distance of about a half-mile. The enecorps, numbering, in all, four thousand six hun- my pursued with great rapidity, fighting all the dred men when the fight began, sustained a loss way, and doing considerable damage. For a in proportion to the number engaged, which is time all seemed lost, but the presence of the perhaps without a parallel in the history of this Western troops inspired confidence in the whole terrible war. The One Hundred and Thirtieth army. When the rebels approached the line of Illinois, commanded by Major Reed, attached to the reserve forces, our army was brought into the Fourth division, could only find fifty-eight | excellent position, and the fighting again became men after the battle. So precipitate was the re- terrific. The Western boys threw their hats in treat of the Fourth division of this corps, that the air, and raised a yell which was heard above the men only brought off six hundred and forty the roar of artillery and the rattle of musketry. stand of small-arms, hundreds of them throw- That tremendous yell was more terrible to the ing away their guns to facilitate their move- rebels than the thundering peals of cannon. ments. At least one half of the Thirteenth One of the prisoners afterward remarked, that corps were killed, wounded, or captured. Gen- when they heard that shout, the word passed eral Lee's cavalry lost heavily, but some time round: "There are the Western boys-we will must elapse before correct estimates can be ob- catch h-1 now.” In a short time their column tained. began to waver. General A. J. Smith ordered a charge along the whole line. The order was quickly obeyed. Another shout was raised from our boys. General Mower advanced to the front, and led the charge in person, riding through the thickest of the fight, cheering his men on. The rebels could stand no longer. They broke and ran in great confusion, throwing away their guns, and giving up the day. They were hotly pur The retreating column fell back some four or five miles, when the Nineteenth army corps, under General Ewing, came up and succeeded in making a stand. The rebels charged upon General Ewing's forces, but were checked and repulsed with considerable loss. Night came on, and thus ended the battle of Mansfield. The stand was made by the Nineteenth army corps, which remained on the field until mid-sued by our forces, who pressed them closely, night, when it fell back to Pleasant Hill, a distance of about twelve miles, arriving there about daylight Saturday morning. General Lee's cavalry and the Thirteenth ariny corps continued and inflicted terrible blows upon them. The repulse of the rebels was crushing, and attended with immense loss. Whole columns were mowed down, under the galling fire from the Western army. They were driven about two miles into the woods, losing about one thousand men, who were captured, besides a large number of killed and wounded. During the battle, the Forty-ninth Illinois, (Colonel W. R. Morrison's old regiment,) under command of Major Morgan, charged upon a rebel battery with determined bravery, and captured two pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners. Adjutant Deneen, of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois, reported this fact to General Banks. The General replied: "Present my compliments to Major Morgan and his regiment, and tell him that I will ever remember them for their gallantry." The rebel prisoners claim to have had twentyfive thousand men engaged on Saturday, but I doubt whether half that number were present. The rebel Generals Parsons and Mouton are reported killed. Our army remained on the field until daylight Sunday morning, when the retreat to Grand Ecore was commenced. The rebel killed and wounded were left on the field. Our wounded were taken to houses in Pleasant Hill, and there were placed in ambulances and wagons and brought on to Grand Ecore, except about twenty-five, who were badly wounded, and left at Pleasant Hill in care of two surgeons. Our dead were left on the field, but it is reported that they were afterward buried by the cavalry. Our killed and wounded during the second day's battle, will, perhaps, amount to one thousand five hundred. That of the rebels is at least double that amount. The Sixteenth and Nineteenth army corps were the only forces engaged in this fight on our side. In our retreat to Grand Ecore, a distance of thirty-five miles from Pleasant Hill, we were not molested in the least. By Monday evening, (the eleventh,) the whole army was at Grand Ecore, on Red River. There is great dissatisfaction expressed on all sides, at the generalship displayed by General Banks. He has lost the confidence of the entire army. The privates are ridiculing him. Officers are not loudly but deeply cursing him, and civilians are unanimous in condemnation of the Commanding General. The Friday's battle was brought on contrary to General Franklin's plans. And both General Franklin and General Ransom protested against having the cavalry so far in advance of the main army. General Banks hurried on, supposing that there was no danger, but the sad defeat at Mansfield is the result. After General Banks left Grand Ecore, he wrote back to General Grover, at Alexandria, saying: "We hope to meet the enemy this side of Shreveport." His hope has been more than realized. The troops are calling for General Sherman. They say if Sherman had been in command, he would now be in Shreveport, instead of at Grand Ecore. General Banks has been engineering his department more to further his presidential aspirations than any thing else. But if the Baltimore Con vention were composed of the army of the Gu.f, his chances would be hopeless. He would not get enough votes to save him from that unimportant list put down as "scattering." Personally, General Banks is a perfect gentleman. I have no prejudice against him, for he has invariably treated me with kindness and consideration. But the truth must be told. As a military man, he is, as the vernacular has it, “played out." General A. J. Smith protested against the retreat from Pleasant Hill. He wanted to pursue the rebels on Sunday on his own hook instead of falling back, but General Banks was firm, and ordered all the forces to return. General Smith is very popular with the army, and every time he makes his appearance he is cheered with great enthusiasm, and considered one of the ablest generals of the army. It is difficult to determine at this time what will be the result of this expedition. It will take some time to reorganize before an advance can be resumed. If the river continues to fall, navigation above Alexandria will be difficult, if not impossible. In that event, Alexandria will necessarily become the base of operations instead of Grand Ecore, or some point above. The transports and gunboats are all above Grand Ecore, but are expected down here to-morrow. The rebels are very troublesome on the river above Grand Ecore. They succeeded in planting a battery between our fleet and this place. The gunboats shelled the woods all day yesterday, and perhaps dislodged them. The transports are almost constantly fired on from both sides of the river. Seventeen miles below here, the rebels have appeared on the east side of the river. Yesterday, the Ohio Belle, loaded with soldiers and quartermaster's stores, in charge of Chief Clerk, Mr. O'Neil, of St. Louis, was fired into at that point, and two soldiers were badly wounded. To-day, the fine passenger steamer, Mittie Stephens, loaded with troops, was fired into at the same place, sixty shots taking effect. Six persons were wounded and one killed. To-day General Banks's army began crossing over to the east side of Red River, opposite Grand Ecore. Whether the whole army will cross over or not, I am unable to say. It is rumored that only Smith's army (Sixteenth army corps) is crossing, and that he is going overland to Natchez or Vicksburgh. But this wants confirmation, although it is generally understood that General Grant has sent an order for Smith's return to Vicksburgh. I do not see how General Banks can spare the Sixteenth army corps at this time." All the forces have been ordered here from Alexandria, except one regiment, and a few companies of home-guards. General Grover, commanding the post at Alexandria, has been ordered here, and is now expected. Fears ar、 entertained that the rebels may attack Alexandria for the purpose of destroying the large amoun of army supplies at that place. Admiral Porter has arrived here from above with two or three of his iron-clads. The fleet of transports above here are in great danger at this |